Electrical connector for cardiac devices

Abstract

A temporary cardiac pacing wire, or a similar device, includes an electrically conductive lead which is folded over on itself so as to be adapted for connection to a pacing or monitoring apparatus. In the case of a bipolar temporary cardiac pacing wire, flexible wires are employed having two elongated conductive sections at a proximal end. The conductive sections are suitable for connecting to a power source adapted to generate electrical signals for stimulating, pacing, sensing, monitoring or defibrillating the heart of a patient. One conductive section results from the distal end of a Keith-type needle that breaks away from the rest of the needle. This section is suitable for directly connecting to the power source. The other conductive section is suitable for connecting to the power source when folded over on itself.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An electrical connector for a cardiac device, comprising wire means having a distal end and a proximal end; and connecting means for electrically connecting said wire means to a cardiac device, said connecting means including at least one electrically conductive connector disposed about said wire means intermediate said distal and proximal ends thereof and a folded over section of said wire means which cooperates with said at least one connector to form a plug assembly having a dimensional thickness sufficient to permit said assembly to be plugged into an electrical terminal socket of the cardiac device. 
     
     
       2. An electrical connector according to claim  1 , wherein said at least one connector includes a first connector and a second connector, one of said first and second connectors being located on said folded over section of said wire means, and said first and second connectors cooperating with each other and with said wire means to form said plug assembly. 
     
     
       3. An electrical connector according to claim  2 , wherein said at least one electrical connector includes a third connector, and wherein said wire means includes a fourth electrically conductive connector disposed at said proximal end thereof, said fourth connector cooperating with said third connector and with another folded over section of said wire means to form another plug assembly having a dimensional thickness sufficient to permit said another assembly to be plugged into another electrical terminal socket of the cardiac device. 
     
     
       4. An electrical connector according to claim  1 , wherein said at least one electrical connector includes one connector only, said one connector cooperating with an electrically insulated portion of said folded over section of said wire means to form said plug assembly. 
     
     
       5. An electrical connector for a cardiac device, comprising wire means having a first electrode at a distal end of said wire means a second electrode at said distal end of said wire means, a first electrically conductive wire electrically connected to said first electrode and extending from said first electrode to a proximal end of said wire means, and a second electrically conductive wire electrically connected to said second electrode and extending from said second electrode to said proximal end of said wire means; and connecting means for electrically connecting said wire means to a cardiac device, said connecting means including a folded over section of said wire means, a first connector, located at said proximal end of said wire means, for electrically connecting said first wire to a source of electric signals, and a second connector, located between said proximal and distal ends of said wire means, for electrically connecting said second wire to a source of electric signals, said second connector being in the form of a sleeve and being mechanically connected to said first and second wires but electrically connected to said second wire only, and said first wire including said folded over section. 
     
     
       6. An electrical connector according to claim  5 , wherein said first wire is sufficiently flexible to permit a portion thereof to be folded over into abutment with said second connector to form a plug assembly having a dimensional thickness sufficient to permit said assembly to be plugged into an electrical terminal socket. 
     
     
       7. An electrical connector according to claim  6 , wherein said first connector includes a distal portion of a severed Keith-type needle. 
     
     
       8. An electrical connector according to claim  7 , wherein said Keith-type needle has an outside diameter and said second connector has a length which is at least about ten times said diameter of said Keith-type needle. 
     
     
       9. An electrical connector according to claim  8 , wherein said second connector has a maximum lateral dimension which is not greater than said diameter of said Keith-type needle. 
     
     
       10. An electrical connector according to claim  7 , wherein said connecting means further includes a third connector which is in the form of a sleeve and which is mechanically connected to said first wire, said third connector being positioned on said first wire such that said third connector cooperates with said second connector to form said plug assembly. 
     
     
       11. An electrical connector according to claim  10 , wherein said third connector is electrically connected to said second wire. 
     
     
       12. An electrical connector according to claim  10 , wherein said third connector is not electrically connected to said second wire. 
     
     
       13. An electrical connector according to claim  10 , wherein said second and third connectors extend circumferentially about said first wire, said first wire extending longitudinally through said second and third connectors. 
     
     
       14. An electrical connector according to claim  10 , wherein said Keith-type needle has an outer diameter and each of said second and third connectors has a length which is at least about ten times said diameter of said Keith-type needle and a maximum lateral dimension which is not greater than said diameter of said Keith-type needle. 
     
     
       15. An electrical connector according to claim  10 , wherein said second connector has an electrically-insulated distal end, said third connector has an electrically-insulated proximal end, and said distal portion of said Keith-type needle has an electrically-insulated distal end. 
     
     
       16. An electrical connector according to claim  10 , wherein said connecting means further includes a fourth connector which is in the form of a sleeve and which extends circumferentially about said first wire, said fourth connector being positioned on said first wire such that said fourth connector abuts said distal portion of said Keith-type needle when another section of said wire means is folded over, whereby said fourth connector cooperates with said distal portion of said Keith-type needle to form another plug assembly adapted to be plugged into another electrical terminal socket. 
     
     
       17. An electrical connector according to claim  16 , wherein said fourth connector is electrically connected to said first wire. 
     
     
       18. An electrical connector according to claim  16 , wherein said fourth connector is not electrically connected to said first wire. 
     
     
       19. An electrical connector according to claim  16 , wherein said Keith-type needle has an outer diameter and each of said second, third, and fourth connectors has a length which is at least ten times said diameter of said Keith-type needle and a maximum lateral dimension which is not greater than said diameter of said Keith-type needle. 
     
     
       20. An electrical connector according to claim  5 , wherein said first and second wires are arranged in a side-by-side fashion relative to each other. 
     
     
       21. An electrical connector according to claim  5 , wherein said first and second wires are arranged coaxially relative to each other. 
     
     
       22. A temporary pacing wire, comprising a first electrode at a distal end of said pacing wire; a second electrode at said distal end of said pacing wire; a first electrically conductive wire electrically connected to said first electrode and extending from said first electrode to a proximal end of said pacing wire; a second electrically conductive wire electrically connected to said second electrode and extending from said second electrode to said proximal end of said pacing wire; first connecting means, located at said proximal end of said pacing wire, for electrically connecting said first wire to a source of electric signals; and second connecting means, located at said proximal end of said pacing wire, for electrically connecting said second wire to a source of electric signals, said second connecting means including a connector which is in the form of a sleeve and which is mechanically connected to said first and second wires but electrically connected to said second wire only, said first wire being sufficiently flexible to permit a portion thereof to be folded over into abutment with said connector to form a plug assembly having a dimensional thickness sufficient to permit said assembly to be plugged into an electrical terminal socket.